thebookpile (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thebookpile) wrote2008-10-03 09:13 am
thebookpile) wrote2008-10-03 09:13 am
Quick Note Between Talks, Again
I watched the English debate. I certainly haven't been a big fan of Elizabeth May, but I thought she did really well last night. A lot of people seem to think that Jack Layton or Stephen Harper won. Not for me. May came across as the most knowledgeable person sitting at the table, and the quickest on her feet. Had she not started talking over the moderator during the second hour, I would have said that she had the best performance possible for a first-time participant.
Stéphane Dion had a shocker...at least by my standards, which aren't likely shared by others. When he talked into the camera, I felt like I was a child and that he was calmly explaining why I should look both ways before crossing the road. I much preferred the feisty Dion from the French debate (particularly when he took on Layton on Afghanistan, which, for my money, was the best exchange in French). I wish the Liberals had stuck with that feisty style but the party has its own polls that no doubt guided Dion's strategy.
Stephen Harper's continuous use of "Let's be clear" reminded me Paul Martin's "Make no mistake". In both cases, it seemed to be an indication that the words that followed had been memorized by rote beforehand to be delivered robotically during the debate. I was unimpressed but I think others will think he did just enough. Personally, I saw someone phoning in his performance. In fact, the entire Conservative campaign seems to be about "phoning it in" ever since the juvenile Conservative war-roomers were beaten down after the first week of the campaign.
I'm getting so tired of Duceppe. I'm just glad he had some new talking points, unlike in 2006, when he essentially recycled his notes from 2004 and gave almost a word-for-word repeat of that performance.
But that's the opinion of one guy, who watched the debate alone after a long day in his hotel room in Hamilton. Your mileage may vary!
Stéphane Dion had a shocker...at least by my standards, which aren't likely shared by others. When he talked into the camera, I felt like I was a child and that he was calmly explaining why I should look both ways before crossing the road. I much preferred the feisty Dion from the French debate (particularly when he took on Layton on Afghanistan, which, for my money, was the best exchange in French). I wish the Liberals had stuck with that feisty style but the party has its own polls that no doubt guided Dion's strategy.
Stephen Harper's continuous use of "Let's be clear" reminded me Paul Martin's "Make no mistake". In both cases, it seemed to be an indication that the words that followed had been memorized by rote beforehand to be delivered robotically during the debate. I was unimpressed but I think others will think he did just enough. Personally, I saw someone phoning in his performance. In fact, the entire Conservative campaign seems to be about "phoning it in" ever since the juvenile Conservative war-roomers were beaten down after the first week of the campaign.
I'm getting so tired of Duceppe. I'm just glad he had some new talking points, unlike in 2006, when he essentially recycled his notes from 2004 and gave almost a word-for-word repeat of that performance.
But that's the opinion of one guy, who watched the debate alone after a long day in his hotel room in Hamilton. Your mileage may vary!
"phoning it in"
(Anonymous) 2008-10-03 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)"Canada. We're better off with Harper."
Strong language there, I think. But mostly, what pisses me off is the way (in the last few elections, actually) they've tried to win (and won) votes by scaremongering.
Vote for us, 'cause the other people are terrible and will screw you.
Faith
Re: "phoning it in"
Re: "phoning it in"
(Anonymous) 2008-10-05 04:51 am (UTC)(link)F
Re: "phoning it in"
Re: "phoning it in"
(Anonymous) 2008-10-05 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)F
Re: "phoning it in"
However, I've the ads on national network TV, so I would've thought that they were being broadcast nation-wide.
no subject
My lack of knowledge regarding the Green Party is fairly vast and I know you've done some work on their behalf in the past. Any thoughts?
Von
no subject
As for the article's merit, it's from nearly 10 years ago in the Ottawa Sun. I think there's no harm in getting his side of the story by e-mailing him (akbar.manoussi@greenparty.ca) or phoning his office (I have 613- 868-2164 as the number for his media contact; if they can't answer the question, they may be able to forward you to someone who can). The link in your post, above, does sound rather alarmist, but there may be a story there.
If you have an active library card with the OPL, you can also look up their archive of The Ottawa Citizen to see if a similar story was published at the same time (try this link (http://www.lirico.ca:61915/rpa/webauth.exe?rs=cn&lb=ottawa)). I just tried looking this up for you but my library just (only just!) expired!
no subject
I've also been a bit disappointed that the Ottawa-Vanier Green Party website (http://www.ottawavaniergreens.ca/) has not been updated since July 26, 2008. It's a little thing, but no updates since the announcement of the election and certainly no update regarding yesterday's debate (no recap and no initial "date/time" post). It seems odd and counter-intuitive to me that this kind of thing would be allowed to slip.
I also did a bit of research into what his students think of him (on "Rate your Professor") and he gets a pretty poor rating as a prof, too (and interestingly, after checking that website, someone posted a comment today about his Iranian ties, too. Probably the same "someone" who did that blog post). Not that cranky students would influence my vote, I hasten to add, but I'm a bit disappointed that I'm finding more comments about him rather than from him, y'know?
Von
no subject
A non-updated website is a big warning for me. If a candidate can't even get a team together to keep a simple website updated during an election campaign, how is he/she going to represent you and your riding effectively?
The only case I can make for him is that your vote for the Greens would give them $1.83 per year in federal funding. Given that you live in one of the safest Liberal ridings in the country, you know that Manoussi won't get in and that your vote, while seemingly wasted, might do some microscopic good to the party overall. In this case, you'd be voting for the party, not the candidate.
To be honest, though, if it were me...I'd consider other candidates in your riding, if only because of the website thing. I personally have a tough time disregarding the lacunae of a local candidate for the good of a party.
I hope the above didn't cross a line. I really, really don't want to tell you (or anyone) how to vote, which is why I tried to give one pro and one con for voting Green in Ottawa-Vanier.
no subject
I'm aware of the $1.83 (ok, I thought it was a $1.82!) and I've been chewing over doing exactly what you outlined. Or I may vote for Trevor Haché of the NDP instead. I need to take a closer look at both platforms before I make a final decision.
I also dropped Manoussi an email earlier today and I'll be curious if he responds. I was polite as possible, but I did pointedly ask about the allegations on that website and what his thoughts are on it. We'll see.
MMPR would be my preference, too. It is hard not to be jaded about the entire political process and this election certainly hasn't helped. I have to admit I get frustrated with the lack of accountability. That promises can be made during the election but the electorate have no real ability to hold anyone accountable once the votes have been tallied (well, save for the next election down the road, I suppose). I've felt the same way back when I finally turned 18 and was able to vote for the first time. I was excited to take part, of course, but the lack of accountability has always galled me.
One quick note about the Green website: http://www.manoussi.ca seems to have replaced the http://www.ottawavaniergreens.ca website. It's certainly not clear on the latter website, of course, but the former does seem to be far more up to date. Still, lack of communication always hurts - especially it would have taken 5 minutes to do a post indicating that a switch had been made. Oy!
Von
no subject
The riding association website remains active between elections so that the local members can elect a candidate, schedule events/fundraisers, and go about their daily business. The candidate's website pops up in time for the election and then is usually discarded (unless they are elected or plan to run again).
Have fun wading through policy!
no subject
If I don't get an answer by voting day, I'm going to be a pretty disappointed "undecided voter." Wah!
Von